Days before the fall semester was to begin, the UNM men's basketball team announced Thursday that junior college transfer Shelton Colwell has been denied admission to the University.
Colwell, a 6-foot-7-inch, 215 pound forward who signed a letter of intent in the spring to play with the Lobos, failed to meet the admission standards set by UNM. Assistant coach Duane Broussard said some of the credits Colwell earned at Des Moines (Iowa) Area Community College were not accepted.
According to UNM's 2001-2003 catalog, "Transfer students will receive full credit for course work completed with a minimum grade of 'C,' provided the classes are similar or equivalent to courses offered at the university."
The catalog also states that UNM does not accept "technical/vocational, remedial, personal development, or dogmatic religion courses. Credit is not awarded for work or life experience, cooperative education, or for courses from out-of-state in which the grade received was lower than 'C.'"
Broussard said Colwell worked hard over the summer to earn some of the credits, but just came up short.
"It was pretty disappointing," Broussard said. "He had a tremendous summer. He really wanted to be here. He just came up short."
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"He was very disappointed. Right now, he is trying to heal."
Head coach Ritchie McKay said in a statement that he fully supported UNM's admissions standards.
"We want us to attract student-athletes who will be successful in the classroom and on the court," McKay said. "Our desire and commitment is to identify those young men early on the in the recruiting process. However, due to the lateness in the recruitment of Shelton, we had hoped that he would be able to attend UNM, but that did not happen."
Colwell was expected to be a key contributor to the Lobos this season, especially on the interior. He averaged 17.5 points and 11.1 rebounds a game last season and 18.5 points and 10.2 rebounds as a freshman at Des Moines. His athleticism and versatility was expected play a big role in shoring up the Lobos' shortcomings inside.
UNM took a hit in the offseason when sophomore forward Patrick Dennehy was dismissed from the team after he walked away from an individual practice during the first week of McKay's tenure. UNM avoided a worse fate when Jamaal Williams elected to stay at UNM after his freshman season.
Broussard said the frontcourt is long on talent, with Williams and center Chad Bell returning and the additions of freshman David Chiotti and sophomore transfer Michael McCowan. But Broussard said they will be short on experience without Colwell.
